Adjustable cushioning apparatus for a treadmill

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an adjustable cushioning apparatus for a treadmill. A height-adjustable device is mounted on a base portion to work with a transmission assembly of a motor and two lifting elements for adjusting the inclination of the frame portion. Meanwhile, both sides of the base portion are pivotably connected with an adjustable cushioning element, respectively. The actuation shafts of the adjustable cushioning elements are pivotably secured to the top of the lifting elements. When weight is placed onto the frame portion, the adjustable cushioning elements are able to provide proper cushioning effect. Moreover, two adjustable cushioning elements are driven by an adjustment motor set. So the operator can preset the cushioning force via the console. A displacement detector is installed at both sides of the base portion, respectively, for detecting the displacement amount of the frame portion being forced. Thereafter, the detection data are transmitted back to the console for giving orders to the respective adjustment motor set to make corresponding reaction. Thus, the cushioning forces of the adjustable cushioning elements are constantly adjusted to the value predetermined by the operator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a new and improved design of anadjustable cushioning apparatus for a treadmill, and more particularly,to an apparatus which utilizes adjustable cushioning elements, anadjustment motor set and a displacement detector. Therefore, theoperator is able to use the console to choose a desired cushioning levelaccording to his own preference or the physician's instructions, therebyincreasing the comfort in use of the treadmill.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In general, the treadmill is provided with cushioning apparatusesat suitable places for achieving a proper cushioning effect andenhancing the comfort of the operator during a workout session.Meanwhile, a protection mechanism has been developed for preventing bothfeet of the operator from being injured due to the too large reactiveforce of the platform of the treadmill. It will be particularlybeneficial to the operator if hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are usedto provide more excellent cushioning effect. A few prior arts such asU.S. Pat. No. 4,591,147, U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,988, U.S. Pat. No.4,974,831, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,810, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,928, U.S. Pat.No. 5,372,559, etc. have disclosed the application of hydraulic orpneumatic cylinders to the treadmill.

[0005] Although the above-mentioned prior arts have advantages of moreexcellent protection effect and greater comfort, they all don't have anyautomatic mechanism for adjusting the cushioning force by operatorsthemselves to meet their own different requirements. In brief, aoperator with heavier weight would feel that the cushioning force is tooslight while a operator with lighter weight could feel that it is toostrong if the cushioning force is fixed at a certain extent. Besides,different operators are their own subjective feeling about thecushioning strength no matter how strong or light the cushioning forceis. In addition, some operators have special rehabilitation requirementsthereto. Accordingly, the prior arts are required for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a primary object of the present invention to remove theabove-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an adjustable cushioningapparatus for a treadmill that employs hydraulic or pneumatic cylindersas cushioning source. The difference between the prior art and thepresent invention lies in that the cushioning element of the presentinvention is adjustable. Meanwhile, the present invention furtherutilizes an adjustment motor set and a displacement detector such thatthe operator can use the console connected with the adjustment motor setand the displacement detector. Therefore, the desired cushioning levelcan be predetermined according to the preference of the user or thephysician's instructions via special control keys. During the exercisesession, the data regarding the exceeding or lacking amount ofdisplacement of the frame portion measured by the displacement detectorsat either side will be independently transmitted back to the console.After the processing of the microprocessor (not shown), the adjustmentmotor set commands the adjustable cushioning element to make properadjustment, thereby achieving expected object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the inventionwill become apparent from the following description and its accompanyingdrawings of which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of the preferred embodimentof FIG. 1; and

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 after adjustment of theinclination of the frame portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] First of all, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodimentof the present invention is shown.

[0012] The treadmill 10 includes a base portion 20 and a frame portion30. A handrail 21 is fixed at both sides of the base portion 20 andextends upwardly therebetween. A console 22 is mounted on the handrail21. The frame portion 30 includes a first motor 31 for working with adrive belt 32 and a belt wheel 33 to rotate a front roller 34. A runningbelt 36 extends around the front roller 34 and a rear roller 35 so thatthe running belt 36 makes an in-place continuous rotation about theframe portion 30. A supporting board 37 is disposed under the runningbelt 36 such that the operator can stand thereon to take the walking,jogging or running exercise. Moreover, a pair of pivoting shaftassemblies 23 is interposed between the frame portion 30 and the baseportion 20 for pivotably connecting to the both portions.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base portion 20 of the treadmill10 includes a second motor 40. A transmission assembly 41 works with twolifting elements 42 to adjust the inclination of the frame portion 30.Meanwhile, both sides of the base portion 20 are pivotably connectedwith an adjustable cushioning element 50, respectively. The actuationshafts 51 of the adjustable cushioning elements 50 are pivotably securedto the top of the lifting elements 42. When weight is placed onto theframe portion 30, the adjustable cushioning elements 50 are able toprovide proper cushioning effect.

[0014] Moreover, two adjustable cushioning elements 50 are driven by anadjustment motor set 52 such that the operator can preset the cushioningforce via the console 22. A displacement detector 53 is installed atboth sides of the base portion 20, respectively, for detecting thedisplacement amount of the frame portion 30 being forced. Thereafter,the detection data are transmitted back to the console 22 for givingorders to the respective adjustment motor set 52 to make correspondingreaction. Thus, the cushioning forces of the adjustable cushioningelements 50 are constantly adjusted to the value predetermined by theoperator.

[0015] The first motor 31, the second motor 40, the adjustment motor set52 and the displacement detector 53 mentioned above are connected to theconsole 22 via an electronic circuit (not shown) and controlled by amicroprocessor (not shown) within the console 22. Accordingly, theoperator can determine all parameters, such as exercise duration, speed,inclination of the frame portion and the cushioning force, via thecontrol keys (not shown) on the console 22.

[0016] During the exercise session, the forces applied by both feet ofthe operator to the frame portion 30 could be different. Therefore, thedata measured by the displacement detector 53 will be different as well.The displacement detectors 53 of the adjustable cushioning elements 50independently send the respective detection signal back to the console22. According to the real data measured by the displacement detectors 53together with the preset value of the operator, the adjustment motorsets 52 are independently controlled to make a timely reaction.Therefore, the adjustable cushioning elements 50 can be duly adjusted toprovide the same cushioning forces for meeting different requirement ofoperators.

[0017] In fact, the adjustment motor set 52 further includes a motor anda gearbox. Due to the rotation of the output shaft of the motor and thedeceleration by the gearbox, the adjusting knob can be conveniently usedfor a smooth adjustment. This is a common technique so that no furtherdescriptions thereto are given hereinafter.

[0018] Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodimentof the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing fromthe scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science andthe useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A adjustable cushioning apparatus for a treadmillhaving a base portion and a frame portion, the base portion furtherhaving a handrail fixed at both sides of the base portion and extendingupwardly therebetween, a console being mounted on the handrail, theframe portion including a first motor for working with a drive belt anda belt wheel to rotate a front roller, a running belt extending aroundthe front roller and a rear roller so that the running belt makes anin-place continuous rotation about the frame portion, a supporting boardbeing disposed under the running belt, a pair of pivoting shaftassemblies being interposed between the frame portion and the baseportion for pivotably connecting to the both portions, the adjustablecushioning apparatus comprising: a) two adjustable cushioning elementspivotably connected to both sides of the base portion, respectively; andb) actuation shafts pivotably secured to the bottom at a correspondingplace of the frame portion; whereby, when weight is placed onto theframe portion, the adjustable cushioning elements are able to provideproper cushioning effect.
 2. The adjustable cushioning apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising: a) an adjustment motor set for driving twoadjustable cushioning elements such that the operator can preset thecushioning force via the console; and b) a displacement detectorinstalled at both sides of the base portion, respectively, for detectingthe displacement amount of the frame portion being forced whereby thedetection data are transmitted back to the console for giving orders tothe respective adjustment motor set to make corresponding reaction suchthat the cushioning force of the adjustable cushioning elements isconstantly adjusted to the value predetermined by the operator.
 3. Aadjustable cushioning apparatus for a treadmill having a base portionand a frame portion, the base portion further having a handrail fixed atboth sides of the base portion and extending upwardly therebetween, aconsole being mounted on the handrail, the frame portion including afirst motor for working with a drive belt and a belt wheel to rotate afront roller, a running belt extending around the front roller and arear roller so that the running belt makes an in-place continuousrotation about the frame portion, a supporting board being disposedunder the running belt, a pair of pivoting shaft assemblies beinginterposed between the frame portion and the base portion for pivotablyconnecting to the both portions, the base portion of the treadmillfurther including a second motor such that a transmission assembly workswith two lifting elements to adjust the inclination of the frameportion, the adjustable cushioning apparatus comprising: a) twoadjustable cushioning elements pivotably connected to the top of thelifting elements, respectively; and b) actuation shafts pivotablysecured to the bottom at a corresponding place of the frame portion;whereby, when weight is placed onto the frame portion, the adjustablecushioning elements are able to provide proper cushioning effect.
 4. Theadjustable cushioning apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: a) anadjustment motor set for driving two adjustable cushioning elements suchthat the operator can preset the cushioning force via the console; b) adisplacement detector installed at both sides of the base portion,respectively, for detecting the displacement amount of the frame portionbeing forced whereby the detection data are transmitted back to theconsole for giving orders to the respective adjustment motor set to makecorresponding reaction such that the cushioning force of the adjustablecushioning elements is constantly adjusted to the value predetermined bythe operator.
 5. The adjustable cushioning apparatus of claims 1 and 3wherein the adjustable cushioning element is operated in such a way thatthe cushioning force is manually adjusted.